Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which surplus tabbed sheets produced in one set of output can be utilized for the next set of output, without requiring a user to perform a laborious task. In the image forming apparatus, a CPU calculates the number of tabbed sheet groups which will be used for one set of image formation and the number of tabbed sheets which will be used from among the last tabbed sheet group. Among the last tabbed sheet group, surplus tabbed sheets which will be left unused in the one set of image formation are determined. If the number of tabbed sheets is equal to or less than the number of the surplus tabbed sheets, at least one of the surplus tabbed sheets is used to carry out two sets of image formation.

Abstract: In a method of checking a trouble point in a xerographic copying apparatus of the invention, a sequence code is selected from a plurality of sequence codes to distinguish a plurality of sequences to stop an operation of the xerographic copying apparatus in any one process of a plurality of print processing processes for print output of a sheet, an operation of a photoconductor in a state where toner is attached is stopped in any one process among the plurality of print processing processes in accordance with the sequence corresponding to the selected sequence code, and any one trouble point is checked, and therefore, the point where a poor image is generated is suitably grasped.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section which transfers toner onto a latent image due to a difference of electrostatic potential to form a toner image, a transfer section which transfers the toner image onto a recording material directly or via an intermediate transfer body, a fixing section which passes the recording material carrying the toner image between a fixing rotation body and a pressurizing member contacted and pressed each other, and heats and pressurizes to fix the toner image, and a paper dust amount measuring section which measures an amount of paper dust adhering to the recording material. The image forming section forms an image pattern with high toner area coverage at a predetermined interval based on the measured amount of paper dust, and the fixing section fixes the image pattern with the high toner area coverage transferred onto a recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of executing process control at appropriate timing are provided. A control section of an image forming apparatus carries out control for determining execution time of process control and executing the process control. The control section includes a counting section, a determining section and a process control management section. The counting section counts a number of printed sheets. The determining section determines on what time process control is to be executed form the counted number of printed sheets for each time zone. The process control management section manages the process control executed at an image forming section with the whole of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a recording medium along a transport path, a transport status detection unit disposed on the transport path and configured to detect a transport status of the recording medium, a control unit configured to control transport by the transport unit according to the transport status of the recording medium detected by the transport status detection unit, and a container unit configured to hold the recording medium. If the transport status detection unit detects a delay in transporting the recording medium, the control unit controls the transport unit to discharge the recording medium or another recording medium in the transport path into the container unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method to control a velocity ratio thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a developing device to rotate opposite a photoconductive medium and to supply the photoconductive medium with a developer, and a controller to control a velocity ratio of the developing device to the photoconductive medium according to an accumulated number of printed copies.

Abstract: In a color printing mode of an image forming apparatus, two toner images in respective colors are formed and superimposed on an intermediate transfer belt. A gap D11 between toner images of the same color is narrowed while a gap D12 between toner images of different colors is widened, thereby corresponding to the switching of developers. In a printing mode that forms a monochrome image using one developer, gaps D21, D22 between the respective toner images are the same. In a printing mode that forms a monochrome image while switching four developers, a toner image formed immediately before the switching is shifted forward, thereby widening a gap D34 from the next toner image.

Abstract: The present invention is an image forming apparatus having no two-sided printing mechanism in which, by setting a front side printed paper sheet in a manual paper feed section, the paper sheet is taken from the manual paper feed section and a back side printing is executed. At this moment, when a paper detecting switch 24 detects presence of a paper sheet on a manual paper feed tray 23 at the end of the front side printing, a message meaning to remove the paper sheet and thereafter to set the front side printed paper sheet is given. Whether the paper sheet is removed or not is detected according to a change-over of the paper detecting switch 24, and the back side printing is executed after the paper sheet is removed and the front side printed paper sheet is set. As a result, erroneous back side printing on an improper paper sheet can be prevented and a two-sided printing can be correctly executed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a recording medium, an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording medium, a paper feed unit configured to supply the recording medium from the storage unit, a conveying unit configured to convey the recording medium supplied by the paper feed unit to the image forming unit, and a control unit configured to control the paper feed unit and the conveying unit in conveying the recording medium. In accordance with a conveyance state in which the recording medium supplied from the storage unit by the paper feed unit is conveyed to the conveying unit, the control unit controls the conveying speed of the next recording medium supplied by the paper feed unit.

Abstract: A fuser assembly is provided with an onboard memory that may be used to store information useful in determining the conditions under which the fuser assembly has been operated. Such information can be used to better understand the root cause of fuser assembly failures, and estimate remaining fuser life, etc.

Abstract: A developing device includes a toner supplying roller, a developing roller for transferring the one-component toner to a developing position by performing a developing rotation in an image forming operation and moving away from the developing position, a sealing member arranged in a vicinity of the developing roller, and a toner layer regulating roller arranged in contact with the developing roller for locking a rotating operation in the image forming operation, for regulating the one-component toner which adheres on a surface of the developing roller into a thin layer and for freely following the developing roller in a non-image forming operation. A compulsory toner consumption operation is performed to supply toner onto the image bearing member after termination of the non-image forming operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of driving a transfer belt are disclosed. The apparatus and method comprise driving the transfer belt provided in an image forming apparatus by a predetermined distance when the transfer belt has been stopped for a predetermined time, and thus varying the contact portion with a plurality of rollers provided on the transfer belt. Image contamination due to deformation on the belt can be avoided. Additionally, because the rotation time of the driving source can be set to a predetermined time during the power-saving mode, power consumption can be minimized.

Abstract: The life of the photoconductor in an image forming apparatus is typically limited by the eventual occurrence of some form of print quality defect related to the photoconductor. One of the typical failure mechanisms is the slow wearing away of the surface layer of the photoconductor. Photoconductor run life is improved by operating a charging station in a low wear mode during certain circumstances, including: during printing of a low stress page as detected based on the image data; during at least one of cycle up and cycle down operations to control charging of the at least one photoconductor over at least one print zone for at least one cycle of rotation of the at least one photoconductor; during printing of at least one test patch in a process control cycle; and upon determination from the image data that at least one photoconductor will not contribute to the printing during a next print cycle.

Abstract: A method to increase productivity on digital production press machines following an interrupt job includes sending an expected termination point with continuation data back to a digital front end when the machine terminates the original job, as opposed to waiting until the last schedule sheet exits the machine. In this manner, the digital front end may resubmit the continuation of the original job sooner, thus reducing or eliminating the skipped pitches. Final termination information is determined and compared to the continuous data. If there is a discrepancy, the machine may cycle down and recalculated to ensure job integrity.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus comprises: an automatic adjustment unit for automatic adjustment of the apparatus; a job queuing unit for queuing image formation jobs; a counting unit for counting the number of pages from the previous automatic adjustment, for each automatic adjustment item; a determining unit for determining whether the number of image formation pages for automatic adjustment will be reached during execution of the image formation queued job; and a control unit wherein, in the event that the determining unit determines that the number of image formation pages for automatic adjustment will be reached during execution of the image formation job queued by the job queuing unit, automatic adjustment is performed before starting executing of the image formation queued job even though the number of image formation pages counted by the counting unit has not reached the number for the automatic adjustment is to be performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner bottle, a supply unit that supplies toner from the toner bottle to a downstream side, a door that is openably provided to execute toner replenishment, an opening/closing sensor that senses opening/closing of the door, and a unit that renders the supply unit inoperable if the door is open. If the opening/closing sensor detects the opening of the door, counting of the number of prints is started. Then, the control unit detects whether the door is closed. If the door is still opening, the control unit checks whether the number of prints has reached a predetermined value. If not, the control unit sets the image forming apparatus in a printing state. If yes, the control unit stops the printing operation. If the closing of the door is detected, the control unit resets the count value. Subsequently, the control unit determines whether the initial value of the number of prints, which is set through a control panel at the time of starting the printing operation, is reached.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus including an image heater for heating an image on a recording material in a nip portion, an air blower for blowing air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the image heater, and a shutter for opening an closing the air blowing port, wherein when recording materials change in width in the course of continuously executing an image heating process accompanied by a cooling operation, the shutter is kept opened until the number of recording materials after the change reaches a predetermined number, whereby the frequency of the driving of the shutter for the air blowing port when small size recording materials and large size recording materials are mixed-loaded and passed is reduced to thereby achieve the longer life of a shutter driving portion, the electric power saving of the apparatus and a reduction in opening-closing noise.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an adjustment unit adapted to adjust an image to be formed by an image forming unit advises the next adjustment execution timing on the basis of cumulative use information obtained by the image forming unit, and changes the advised adjustment timing on the basis of selection input.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a calculating device, a waiting time calculating device, and a print controlling device. The calculating device divides print data to be printed onto a recording medium into a plurality of zones along a conveyance direction of the recording medium. The calculating device calculates printing time and drying time per each divided zone based on a data amount in each zone. The waiting time calculating device calculates waiting time from completion of printing onto the recording medium until the recording medium has been dried, based on the printing time and the drying time per each zone in consideration of elapse of the drying time of the previously printed zone(s) during printing. The print controlling device configures settings for printing of the recording medium based on the waiting time and performs printing according to the settings.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes an automatic adjustment unit for automatic adjustment of the apparatus, a job queuing unit for queuing image formation jobs, a counting unit for counting the number of pages from the previous automatic adjustment for each automatic adjustment unit, and a determining unit for determining whether the number of image formation pages for automatic adjustment will be reached during the execution of the image formation queued job. In the event that the determining unit determines that the number of image formation pages for automatic adjustment will be reached during execution of the image formation job queued by the job queuing unit, automatic adjustment is performed before starting execution of the image formation queued job, even though the number of image formation pages counted by the counting unit has not reached the number for the automatic adjustment.

Abstract: A system and method for determining an optimal use of printing devices and printing device options in a network computer system or enterprise environment based upon typically usage characteristics of the printing devices and the options available to the printing devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that enables the occurrence of print defects due to a first print start time delay to be eliminated without using a temperature sensor that has a small thermal time constant. When the temperature of a fixing belt serving as an image heating body is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature following the elapse of a fixed time after an image forming operation is started, recording paper is transported to a nip area (fixing area) of a fixing apparatus before the temperature detected by a temperature sensor reaches a predetermined image fixing temperature, and an image forming operation is started immediately.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotary unit having a plurality of development devices provided around a rotary shaft, the development device having a constituent unit, wherein: a plurality of the development devices sequentially move to a development position, where the development devices oppose an image carrier by rotation of the rotary unit, and a development device located at the development position develops an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; each of the plurality of development devices has a state detection unit that detects at least one of a state of the development device and a state of a constituent unit of the development device; and the state detection unit of each of the development devices performs state detection when the development device having the state detection unit is located at the development position.

Abstract: Printing plates, printing system and method for printing electrical circuits. According to embodiments of the invention, patterned layers of conductive, insulating, semi-conductive materials, and other materials can be additively print deposited on a substrate to form electrical circuits. The electrical circuits so formed of single or multiple printed layers can comprise or compose transistor devices, including thin film transistors, multiple transistor circuits or assemblies, or other electrical devices, for example batteries, sensors, displays, memory arrays, and the like. The invention further provides a patterned printing plate imaged by a photolithography and etch process, and a printing system and methods using the patterned plate by which such high resolution, precise registration electrical circuits and circuit devices can be produced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet-feeder for feeding a recording sheet from a sheet cassette. Image forming devices are provided for forming a toner image. An image bearer bears a toner image formed by the image forming devices; and a transferring device transfers the toner image on the image bearer to a recording sheet. A sheet amount detector detects the amount of recording sheets in the cassette. A mode controller allows the image forming devices to start their operations before the sheet feeding section conveys a recording sheet when the amount of recording sheets detected by the sheet amount detector exceeds a predetermined reference amount, and allows the image forming devices to start their operations after the sheet-feeding section conveys the recording sheet when the amount of recording sheets detected by the sheet amount detector is smaller than the reference amount.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus which forms an image by transferring, onto sheets fed by a feeding unit at the first feeding interval, a toner image formed on a photoconductor or intermediate transfer member, if the temperature of a fixing unit which fixes an image transferred onto a sheet falls outside a set temperature range, the sheet layout is changed to a feeding interval wider than the first feeding interval. Whether to perform adjustment processing is determined based on determination of an image forming condition. If the feeding interval is changed to a wider one in the feeding interval changing step during image formation and it is determined in the determination step to perform adjustment processing, toner patch images are formed in an area where no toner image is formed on the photoconductor or intermediate transfer member. The adjustment processing is performed based on reading toner patch images.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing body into a visible image by using a charged developer, so as to form a developer image on the image bearing body; a developing-bias supplying device that supplies, to the developing device, a developing bias necessary for developing the electrostatic latent image into the visible image; a transfer device that transfers the developer image formed on the image bearing body onto a recording medium; a transfer-bias supplying device that supplies, to the transfer device, a transfer bias necessary for transferring the developer image onto the recording medium; and a controller that carries out at least one of (A) developing-bias-dependent transfer-bias control for controlling the transfer bias supplied by the transfer-bias supplying device to the transfer device, on the basis of the developing bias supplied by the developing-bias supplying device to the developing device, and (B) operati

Abstract: A copying machine of the present invention includes a photosensitive drum, a transfer belt which is extended between a plurality of rollers and has a contact section in contact with the photosensitive drum, and a transfer bias supply which applies an electrical charge for transfer to the contact section. At the time of the start of an image forming operation, first, (a) the transfer bias supply is operated, and (b) the rollers are rotated, and then (c) the photosensitive drum is started rotation. By turning on the transfer bias supply prior to the operations of the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt, the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt are attracted to each other at the contact section, thereby preventing the photosensitive drum from rubbing against a foreign matter at the contact section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member to carry a toner image, a drive device to drive the image carrying member, a cleaning member to slide in contact with the image carrying member so as to remove toner remaining on the image carrying member after transferring the toner image onto a sheet from the image carrying member, and a controller, so as to perform a reverse rotation to rotate and stop the image carrying member in a reverse direction of a forward direction at time of image formation and then perform a forward operation to rotate and stop the image carrying member in the forward direction, to control the drive device on the basis of a use amount of the image carrying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus operates in a power saving mode or in the normal printing mode. An image forming section forms an image in accordance with print data received from an external apparatus. A state detecting section detects a state of the image forming apparatus. A controller causes the image forming apparatus to enter into a power saving mode where the controller terminates supply of electric power to a section of the image forming apparatus that consumes a large electric power. A data detecting section detects whether the print data exists in the image forming apparatus. When the state detecting section detects a change in the state of the image forming apparatus and the data detecting section fails to detect print data in the image forming section, the controller causes the image forming apparatus to enter the power saving mode.

Abstract: Provides is an image forming system, comprising an image forming device and an information processing device connected to the image forming device, further comprising a function-detecting unit detecting that a second function is added to the image forming device having a first function, and a notification unit notifying the user using the first function of the fact that the second function is added when addition thereof is detected by the function-detecting unit.

Abstract: In an image forming device, when a replacement timing of a photoconductive drum unit has been reached, the image forming device determines whether or not a replacement timing of a developing unit is close, but not yet actually reached. When the replacement timing of the developing unit is close but not yet reached, the image forming device collectively displays a message to urge the user to replace both the photoconductive drum unit and the developing unit at the same time to avoid problems such as a foggy image.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has an image supporting body, a developing device on which developing units storing developers of the same color are detachably mounted, and control unit for controlling a printing operation in response to a print request. Further, in the case where the total number of print pages of a first developing unit, which is in use, exceeds the number of calibration pages if executing a print request, when a second developing unit which does not exceed the number of calibration pages exists, the control unit executes the printing operation using the second developing unit, and when the second developing unit does not exist, the control unit executes the printing operation using the first developing unit if the requested print page number does not exceed a predetermined threshold, or executes a calibration operation if the requested print page number exceeds the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit which forms an image on a medium for each page, and a notification unit which, when image formation start instructions cannot be successively issued to the image forming unit for successive pages to be formed on media, notifies the image forming unit of the interval between the instructions. The image forming unit shifts to a stop state when the notified interval exceeds a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner bottle, a supply unit that supplies toner from the toner bottle to a downstream side, a door that is openably provided to execute toner replenishment, an opening/closing sensor that senses opening/closing of the door, and a unit that renders the supply unit inoperable if the door is open. If the opening/closing sensor detects the opening of the door, counting of the number of prints started. Then, the control unit detects, whether the door is closed. If the door is still opening, the control unit checks whether the number of prints, has reached a predetermined value. If not, the control unit sets the image forming apparatus in a printing state. If yes, the control unit stops the printing operation. If the closing of the door is detected, the control unit resets the count value. Subsequently, the control unit determines whether the initial value of the number of prints, which is set through a control panel at the time of starting the printing operation, is reached.

Abstract: A system is provided for scanning batch-type documents containing indicia on either a single side or on two sides of each document sheet. Misfeeds through a scanning device are identified by comparison of an anticipated number of pages with an actual number of scanned pages. Similar misfeeds may be identified by comparison of first and second series of pages in two-sided documents. Automatic collating of scanned pages is then performed where desired. The automatic collating may be based upon simple interleaving of pages, or upon recognition of page identifiers, such as page numbers in common or anticipated regions of the page. The scanning, analysis and collating operations may be followed by other processing steps, including transmission of facsimiles, printing, copying, and so forth.

Abstract: An image forming device determines the replacement time of components depending on environment. The image forming device includes an engine part performing the printing job using a certain component upon receiving the print command, a printout counter counting the actual number of the printed sheets, an environment detector detecting a certain environmental information by checking status of each component, a memory containing the maximum number of the printable sheets of the component, and a controller driving the component by reading out the operating condition from the memory corresponding to the received environmental information and determining the replacement time of the component by determining the total number of the printed sheets by differentially compensating and accumulating the counted number of the printed sheets depending on the environmental information, and comparing with the maximum number of the printable sheets. Accordingly, accurate replacement time of the component can be estimated.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which, when switching operation from color image forming operation to monochromatic image forming operation, forms a monochromatic image on each of a prescribed number of sheets by stopping a part of the functions of yellow, magenta and cyan image forming sections of the color image forming operation, and thereafter, forms a monochromatic image only with a black-only image forming section, thereby permitting extension of service life of the image forming sections, while improving the productivity.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to enable the user to judge whether the print is executed or not by informing the user of a print time which is required for a printing process before starting the printing. The print time which is required for the printing process is estimated before starting the printing process on the basis of draw information based on a print document that is formed by an application and print set information at the time of executing the printing process of the print data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printer which performs efficient power save control by keeping track of the condition of each client of the printer without having to send wasteful packets, that is, without affecting the network environment. The printer includes: a unit for monitoring packets flowing on a network, and for updating and storing a client-associated last receive time each time a packet is received from any client of the printer; a unit for determining, by referring to the stored client-associated last receive time, that any client from whose associated last receive time has elapsed a prescribed time is in an idle condition, and for computing a printer usage rate by summing the past average usage rates of the clients that have been determined not to be in an idle condition; and a unit for setting, based on the computed printer usage rate, the length of time allowed before a transition is made to the power save mode.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit which forms an image on a medium for each page, and a notification unit which, when image formation start instructions cannot be successively issued to the image forming unit for successive pages to be formed on media, notifies the image forming unit of the interval between the instructions. The image forming unit shifts to a stop state when the notified interval exceeds a predetermined time.

Abstract: The number of pages of a print job received at printer (10) is determined (256). If the number of pages is low, printing is conducted at intermediate speed (262). If the number of pages is higher, printing is conducted at high speed (254). If the number of pages is not known, a default is selected (260). The default often will be to print at intermediate speed because most jobs are short. If high speed printing is in progress when a job is received, the next job is printed at high speed (254). Alternatively, a predetermined number of the first pages of a job may be printed at intermediate speed.

Abstract: A printing system includes multiple image forming apparatuses connected over a network. The multiple image forming apparatuses are printers, copying machines or the like, and carry out printing based on print data. The printing system has a substitute printing function or a printing task distributing function. When print data is printed out using a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus via the printing substitution function or the printing task distributing function, the number of pages printed by the second image forming apparatus is counted and kept track of by the first image forming apparatus. Consequently, regardless of whether group management is in place at the second image forming apparatus, the number of pages printed may be centrally maintained by the first image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In a duplex printing or a simplex printing, upper and lower rollers of a fixing unit are separated from each other or stop rotating during a period after the fixing operation of the first side of a recording medium (or a preceding recording medium) and before the fixing operation of the second side of the recording medium (or a subsequent recording medium). With such an arrangement, it is possible to prevent the excessive heating of the lower roller, and thereby to prevent the degradation of the printed image.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus and a power-saving mode control method thereof are disclosed. The power-saving mode control method for the image-forming apparatus includes calculating a lapsed time after the image-forming apparatus enters a power-saving mode, that is, a power-saving mode duration time Ts, and determining a cause of the power-saving mode being turned off, selecting a different warm-up mode depending on the cause of the power-saving mode being turned off and the power-saving mode duration time; and controlling warm-up operations to be performed according to the selected warm-up mode.

Abstract: A color-image forming device is provided with: a color-image forming unit for forming a color image by superimposing a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of colors onto a recording medium. An automatic color-drift correction executes color-drift correction of color drift generated during the superimposition of the images. A color-drift correction execution interval setting unit variably sets the color-drift correction execution intervals, at which intervals the automatic color-drift correction executes the color-drift correction. The functions of the automatic color-drift correction and the color-drift correction execution interval setting unit are realized by the system control unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a rotatable rotating body to and from which a plurality of developer containers can be attached and detached, each of the developer containers being capable of containing developer of a different color. When the image forming apparatus continuously forms images on a plurality of number of sheets of media using the developer of a single color contained in one of the developer containers attached to the rotating body, the image forming apparatus causes rotational movement of the rotating body at least once at least either when the image forming apparatus starts to continuously form the images, or when the image forming apparatus ends the continuous formation of the images.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing apparatus having a non-contact temperature detecting unit which detects temperature by sensing infrared rays emitted from the a heating roller. A difference between a real temperature and the temperature detected by the non-contact temperature detecting unit, which is produced by time-lag until reaching the infrared rays emitted from the heating roller, is corrected.

Abstract: This invention is intended to control the amount of power to be supplied to a fusing heater below a maximum applicable current value. The engine controller supplies electricity to both of two heating bodies at the same fixed duty D1. At a phase angle ?1 corresponding to the fixed duty D1, pulse signals ON1 and ON2 are issued in response to a ZEROX signal as a trigger. A current value I1 is detected based on a HCRRT signal from the current detection circuit. The engine controller calculates an upper limit of applicable power duty Dlimit based on the detected current value I1, the fixed duty D1 and the preset applicable current value Ilimit. Then, a PI temperature control is performed at a duty below the upper limit duty Dlimit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which, when switching operation from color image forming operation to monochromatic image forming operation, forms a monochromatic image on each of a prescribed number of sheets by stopping a part of the functions of yellow, magenta and cyan image forming sections of the color image forming operation, and thereafter, forms a monochromatic image only with a black-only image forming section, thereby permitting extension of service life of the image forming sections, while improving the productivity.